replacing my vanos, what else can i do?

[speedinfusion]

since im gona be in there...is there any maintnence stuff i should/can do?

car has like 160K on it.still running on stock suspension (which is shot lol)

i bought the car last year from a guy who was too rich to really care for the car like it should be...the vanos was shot, im just now finding time to replace it...but i wana check/replace anything else i can while im there since i know its a pain to get to that point in the first place....

also, these are the tools im gettin,

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/17613004/aview/bmw113240x66.jpg

thats all i need right?

lastly, i know this is stupid, but what kind of cleaner can i use to remove/clean sludge in random places of the car? there is alot underneath from the oil leak before and some in the bay..

thanks in advance,

-shahid

[jworms]

hey man, how's texas treatin' ya?

i'm pretty sure you won't need 112250 (head bolt socket, unless you plan on taking the head off?) and 113450 (i got this part and never used it when i did my head gasket...not really sure what its point is). other than that it's not too bad of a job. make sure you stay organized and i strongly suggest taking lots of pictures to document the procedure. the pictures come in handy if you forget what something looked like before you had it apart. my biggest hangup was aligning the vanos gears properly. it wasn't that it was difficult to do, i just wasn't exactly sure where they were supposed to line up...again, take pictures if you can. here's the thread i made on my confusion (pictures included): http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=722448

you can probably replace the primary/secondary chain tensioners while you're in there. obviously you'll need to replace your valve cover gasket. if you want to get kinda crazy you could try to inspect/replace the valve retainers. i don't remember which '95 build dates were affected by the weak retainers but it's probably not a bad idea to look into that. also, if you had plans on putting cams in the car this would probably be a good time to do that too :devillook

[speedinfusion]

texas is great, weather sux, just talked to ali...im probably gona be down there this summer...go to vegas as well maybe...


back on topic...so those tools are ok right? i know u had a problem with the wrong one in ur thread...thats ecaxtly what i dont want to happen...is me open up the car and have tools missing...i figured ive have to do the vcg so ill order one and i already have the vanos gasket too...

i was thinking checking the valves too cuz i think they might be bent...ill take lots of pics dont u worry :)

[jworms]

texas is great, weather sux, just talked to ali...im probably gona be down there this summer...go to vegas as well maybe...


back on topic...so those tools are ok right? i know u had a problem with the wrong one in ur thread...thats ecaxtly what i dont want to happen...is me open up the car and have tools missing...i figured ive have to do the vcg so ill order one and i already have the vanos gasket too...

i was thinking checking the valves too cuz i think they might be bent...ill take lots of pics dont u worry :)

good stuff man, we'll have to get a meet going when you're around.

from what i gathered the tool in the picture you posted is what i got and it's the correct one for a '95 M3. it is not the correct one for a '96+ M3 as i found out.

when i sent my head in for resurfacing/cleaning the guy said i had every single one of my exhaust valves bent...and let me tell you those things aren't cheap! i'm not really sure how you'd go about checking the valves without pulling the head though. if you do end up pulling the head you will definitely need that head bolt socket.

[GG///M3]

Dr. vanos stage 1 or 2 upgrade.

[NHbmw325I]

hmm I pulled my head off without any "special" tools? Just those inverted torx sockets or whatever they were called. And had another person hold down the cams for me. I guess re-assembly will be the tricky part once I put it all back together?

[speedinfusion]

i dont need dr. vanos, i have 2 vanos units sitting here lol, thanks though, i know he's the new solution

[jworms]

hmm I pulled my head off without any "special" tools? Just those inverted torx sockets or whatever they were called. And had another person hold down the cams for me. I guess re-assembly will be the tricky part once I put it all back together?

if you want everything timed correctly then yeah. you need to lock the flywheel in place and make sure the cams don't move when you do the timing. bad stuff might happen otherwise.

[NHbmw325I]

thanks, yes I don't want my motor blowing up!

[speedinfusion]

picked up the tools, ill post up pics and stuff when i get it started...

[NHbmw325I]

did you post this ish on werkz too

[Jrdeamicis]

Ok, I have pulled the vanos off, 4 times now within the last two weeks.

The top 3 tools are necessary.

The cams do NOT line up like you would think. The top part of the square is the not the plane they line up on. They actually don't even line up to each other. The tool lines them up properly so they idle is perfect.

If you are just swapping then its a job.

Putting the new thrust washers and all the other happy bits take a bit more effort but not to much more.

[speedinfusion]

did you post this ish on werkz too

negative...